Shoe



Ny 2.7, 1941- E. G. MARINE'r-ll 2,243,737

` SHOE Filed Dec. 2, 1959 s sheets-sheet 1 May 27, 1,941- E. GQ MARINET'TI 2,243,737

SHOE

File-d Deo. 2, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 @yf/Law' Patented May 27, 194i SHOE Edward Gicseph Marinetti, Riverside, R. I., as-

signor of one-half to Arnold W. Jones and Company, Inc., Providence, R. I., a corporation of Rhode Island Application December 2, 1939, Serial No. 307,286

2 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in separable fasteners for use in securing the edges of two materials together.

While my invention may be employed for securing the edges of any two materials together, such as on any type of article of apparel, such as corsets, gloves, etc., it is particularly adapted for use with shoes.

I am aware that others have attempted to employ securing members .slidable in guideways for detachably securing the edges of shoe upper wings together and I am also aware that others have employed shoe lacings in the securing member to simulate when in attached position the appearance of an ordinary shoe.

So far as I am aware, however, I am the first to employ a device of this description in a shoe in which the upper surface of the securing member is substantially in the same plane as the upper surface of the shoe wings and the runners and runways for the securing member are substantially concealed and are specifically constructed in such a manner with a small number of parts asnot to bevisible in the shoe when attached and not to interfere with the movements of the wearer in walking.

An object of my invention, therefore, is to provide a separable fastener of this description, whether it be employed on a shoe, or otherwise,- in which its very existence is substantially concealed from view, the upper surfaces of the securing member and theshoe wings being substantially flush with their edges substantially abutting to present to the shoe its normal appearance when the securing member is moved to closed position, it being obvious that a single movement of the securing member permits the shoe to -be readily removed from the foot and a single locking movement permits the securing member to be locked in a concealed position after the foot has been inserted within the shoe.

Further features of my invention relate to the specific construction of the various component parts thereof, including the stop means I preferably employ to prevent the securing member from running out of its runways and to assume a position with the ends thereof substantially in alignment with the ends of the shoe upper wings when in closed position. Y

Further features of my invention relate to the construction of means I Vpreferably employ to normally latch the securing member in raised closed position releasable by the lifting of the securing member only to permit by the same ac- Cil tion the sliding of the securing member to an open position. Y

These and such other objects of my invention as may hereinafter appear will be best understood-from a'description of the accompanying drawings which illustrate my invention applied to a mans lowl shoe of the* Blucher type.

In the drawings,`

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a shoe equipped with my invention with thel securing member in closed position as where the shoe is on the foot. Fig. 2 is a perspective Vview similar to Fig. 1 with the securing member in lowered open position permitting the foot to be removed from or inserted within said shoe.

Fig.r3 vis a rear elevation of the upper edge of the shoe upper wings and securing member in attached position with the latch latching the securing-member in closed attached position.

Fig.v 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, lbut with the upperv end of the securing member raised to unlatch the latch to permit the securing member by a continuation ofthe same movement to be moved downwards to open position.

Fig. V5 is a sectional view taken through the wings and securing member of my invention in attached position.

Fig. 6 is a front elevational view of the runway means and securing'member of my invention in half-way open position `with portions of the securing member broken away.

Fig. 7 is a View similar to Fig. 6 of a portion of a runway means and one-half of the securing member in raised closed latched position.

Fig. 8 is a rear elevational view of the parts shown in Fig. '7 in closed position.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. 8. Y

Fig. 10 is a disassembled perspective View of portions of the flexible runway means and runner means and latch.

Fig. 11 is a perspectiveview of the guide plate I preferably employ in the latch means.

In the drawings, wherein like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout, 20 generally indicates a separable fastener for use in securing the edges of two materials together constructed in accordance with my invention.

My invention includes a pair of runway means 22, each attachable to a material edge 2li and a securing member 25 having runners 28 slidable on said runway means 22. Each material edge 24 and the securing member 26 are provided with upper layers 30 and 32 respectively and in accordance with the teachings of my invention said l layers.

upper layers 33 and 32 when the securing member is in closed attached position substantially abut each other leaving no objectionable space therebetween and have substantially ush upper surfaces and the runners 23 and the runway means 22 are substantially completely concealed within the abutting flush surfaces of said outer While this feature of my invention, which I believe is novel, may be employed in any type of separable fastener for use in securing the edges of two materials together, it is particularly desirable for use in boots or shoes in securing the edges of shoe upper wings or other similar boot parts together in closed position specifically the edges of the shoe upper wings in a closed position over' the instep of a foot inserted within said shoe, being concealed within said shoe to provide the normal appearance of said shoe I8 when in attached position, as shown in Fig, 2, my improved separable fastener pei'- mitting the spacing of said wing Vedges 24 to an open position providing an instep openi-ng for insertion of a foot -in said shoe I8. Similarly may my invention be employed for 4securing the edges of a glove slit, boot slit, or Aotherwise together and I employ the words shoe upper wings to include the wings adjacent such a Vslit in a boot or the normal wings in the upper of a shoe as shown.

As stated previously, the -purpose of my invention is to provide a separable fastener which may be removed from -said spaceabl-e wings permitting them to be spread apart for the insertion or removal of a foot from said shoe and at the same time when moved to a closed position to provide the normal appearance of the shoe so that this specic type of -separable fastener is substantially concealed within the shoe when in closed position and with this in view I have specically constructed the parts of my invention as follows: To more accurately simulate a shoe I preferably provide the securing member 26 with a slit 34 dividing said member into side portions 36, a bottom portion 33 and a top handle portion 4S and I have provided the Vusual shoe eyelets 42 in alignment with each other on each side portion 36 of saidsecuring member '26 so that the usual shoelacing 44 may be laced in said eyelets 42 and tied in the usual knot 46 on said securing member. the width of the securing member due tothe flexibility of the bottom portion 38 and top handle portion 40 may be varied in use by the tightness of the lacing of the shoelacing 44 to adjustably variably space the side portions 3S of said securing member from each other and when in closed position also adjustably space the wings 24. It is thus obvious that the shoelacing 44 in said securing member thoroughly simulates the appearance of a laced shoe, even though it is permanently tied in the securing member at the desired adjustable tightness for the wearer, thereby yproviding an initial adjustment even though it be not employed in adjustably opening up the wings 24 or other material edges employed for insertion or removal of a foot from said shoe, the `adjustable spacing of the wings 24 for this purpose being permitted by lowering of the securing member 26 from the closed position shown in Fig. l to the open position shown Iin Fig. 2 and vice versa. It is thus obvious that the movement vof the securing member from an open to a closed position, or -vice versa for removal or insertion of the foot may be accomplished .by a single movement of the hand. It -is thus ob- It is obvious that vious that employing my improved construction all parts of the separable fastener are so concealed within the shoe that it has the appearance of a plain laced shoe employing no separable fastener. It is obvious, however, that if desired the slit 34, eyelets 42 and shoelace 44 may be omitted.

In order that this result rmay be possible, I preferably construct my improved separable fastener as follows: I employ runway means attachable to each respective material or shoe upper wing edge 24 each comprising a flexible binding strip 23 adapted to be secured to a respective shoe upper wing at a spaced distance from the edge thereof and a continuous flexible runway strip-25 relatively superimposed on the inner portion of said binding strip 23 vertically between said wing and binding strip and an inner end 53 bent outwardly, preferably at an acute angle preferably towards Said binding strip 23 forming the runway 22. The flexible binding strip 23 may be constructed of leather or any suitable flexible material and may be secured to the material or wing edge 24 `by the lines of stitching 48. The runway strip 25is preferably made of thin resilient metal .or other suitable thin flexible material and the outer runway portion thereof is preferably slotted .at spaced intervals as at'54 to provide flexibility throughout the length of the .flexible runway means. `Wh'ilezsaid binding and'zrunway strips 23 and 25 may be secured together in any suitable manner, they are preferably provided with aligned rivet holes and the rivets ,having the usual upset ends are preferably employed for permanently securing said binding and runway strips 23 and 25 together.

A preferable feature of my yconstruction comprises the fact 4that the runway strip holes 58 are provided with laxial Llips 62 projecting downwardly `therefrom in the preferred embodiment shown for spacing the respective binding and runway strips 23 and 25 opposite said runway t0 to provide-room bet-Ween them for the insertion -of the runner plates 35 on said securing member therebetween with the runners 28 riding in said runways 22. The lips-62, however, are of such a limited axial length as not to be visible from the exterior of the shoe, or to provide any discomfort to the wearer.

It is obvious, however, that if desired the binding 4strip 23 may kbe omitted and the runway strip 25 vdirectly secured or riveted to the under sur-face of the shoe upper V2-4V and it is also obvious .that the runway strip 2-5 may be secured to said binding strip 2.3 in any other suitable manner than .by theirivets shown and where the binding strip be not employed; the runway `strip maybesecured to .the .under surfaceof the maway strip 25 for better securement of the rivets` 60 thereto and to provide a base for the more ready cementing of the outer layer 30 thereto to `provide a more level outer surface for said Iouter layer 30,

As stated hitherto, the securing member 28 preferably has an outer layer 32 with each side edge thereof terminating in substantially abutting relationship to and with the outer surface thereof flush with the outer surface 38 of each wing, In my preferred embodiment for a purpose to be described, the securing member also is provided with a lining layer 33 and I provide as the runner means a continuous exible runner strip 35 on each side edge of said securing member slidable on said respective runways 58 superimposed between said respective layers 32 and 33 adjacent the side edges thereof, each runnerstrip 35 having an outer edge 84 bent inwardly also preferably at an acute angle preferably towards said outer layer 32 forming a runner. The outer runner por-'tion 84 of each respective runner strip 35 may also if desired be slotted at spaced intervals as at 88 to provide flexibility. Each runner strip 35 and respective outer and lining layers 32 and 33 are provided with the respective aligned eyelet holes and hollow eyelets 42 to extend through said respective aligned holes to join each of said runner strips 35 and outer and lining layers 32 and 33 together along its respective edge of said securing member. Said runner strip holes 18 in the respective runner strips 35 are also provided with axial lips 18 for spacing said runner strips 33 from said outer layer 32, in the embodiment shown, opposite the runner 28 to provide room for the insertion of the runway strip between said outer layer 32 and runner layer so that the runners 28 thereof may be suitably engaged with their respective runways 22. The respective edges 58 and 64 of the runways and runners are preferably bent at acute angles from their respective strips, not only to provide a tighter binding Iaction against spreading movement, but also to conserve spacing between the upper and lining portions of the shoe Wings and securing members.

I also provide means i8 normally latching said securing member in closed attached position, preferably releasable by the lifting of the upper handle portion 48 of said securing member, to permit sliding of said secu-ring member to open position and I also provide means associated with said runners 28 and runways 22 to limit the slidable movement of said securing member in open and closed positions. For this purpose, in my preferred embodiment, each respective runway strip 25 is provided with a downturned upper end 88 providing a sto-p and a stop lug 8l projecting inwardly towards the lower end thereof and as shown more particularly in Fig. 10 the upper end of each respective runner 28 is cut away to permit the runner 28 to start from a point slightly spaced from the upper end of said runner strip 35 to permit the upper end `82 of said runner 28 to abut the downturned runway upper end 88 to limit the upward movement of said securing member 26 and it is `obvious that said respective downturned upper runway end 88 and cut away runner end 82 provide means to limit the upward movement of said securing member 26 on said runways 22.

For the dual purposes to be described I provide a guide plate 84 superimposed on the upper surface of each runner strip 35 near the upper end thereof underneath said outer layer 32 and secured to said respective layers 32 and 33 and runner strip 35 by said eyelets 4-2. As means to limit the -downward movement of said securing member 26 on said runways 22, each guide plate 84 is provided with a st-op lug 88 projecting upwardly therefrom adapted to abut the respective stop lug `8l on the lower end of each runway strip to limit the downward movement of saidv securing member 28 from disengagement with said runways 22 when in o-pen position. Said plate 84 also functions as a guide plate to guide the movement of a spring latch I8 normally latching said. securing member iny closed attached position, preferably releasable by the lifting of the upper handle portion 48 of sai-d securing member to permit sliding of said securing member downwards to the open po- -v sition shown in Fig. 2. In the embodiment of my invention shown a spr-ing latch is provided for latching eachside edge of the securing member .26 to its. respective .runway and comprises a pie-ce of resilient wire 86 having a lower end 88 mounted on a flange 'i8 of opening 18 surrounding an eyelet 42 spaced from the top of said securing member and projecting upwardly as at 88 between said plate 84 and runner strip 25, said plate 84 and runner strip 35 being spaced apart sufficiently for this purpose by the axial lips 16 of the adjacent runner strip holes and having above the upper end of said runner strip a loop 9| projecting rst outwardly as at 92, then across the upper end of said runner strip 25 as at 94 and then inwardly as at 98 terminating in an end 98 preferably secured to the top handle portion 48 of said securing member in any suitable manner as by the stitching |88, to be normally urged outwardly by its inherent resiliency to a position with the portion 94 thereof overlying the upper end 88 of its respective runway plate 25 to prevent slidable downward movement of said member 2B, resiliently pivotable inwardly on raising of said top handle portion 40 as shown in Fig. 4 to move the portion 94 thereof previously overlying the upper end of said runway 25 free of the upper end 88 of said runway strip to permit downward slidable movement of said securing member 28 from the closed position shown in Fig. 1 to the open position shown in Fig. 2.

It is thus obvious that employing my improved latch, it is merely necessary with a single movement of the hand to lift up the upper handle portion 48 of the securing member 26 and with the same movement of the hand continue the movement of the securing member to the open position, the stop lugs 88 abutting the stop lugs 8| to prevent the runners 28 from sliding out of said runways 22 and it is then obvious that when the securing member has been moved to the position shown in Fig. 2 that it is rea-dy for the insertion of the foot, or that the foot may be removed from the shoe I8 through the instep opening thus provided. ,When it is desired to attach the shoe, it is obvious that it is merely neces-sary to grasp the handle portion 48 of said securing member 26 and pull the securing member 28 upwards until the upper ends 82 of the respective runners 28 abut the downturned upper ends 88 of the runways 22 to limit the upward movement of the securing membenthe respective spring latches 18 then on lowering of the to-p handle portion I48 of the securing member through their inherent resiliency bending to 'per-mit the portions 94 thereof to again overlie the upper ends 88 of said runways 22 thereby providing latch means to permanently latch the securing member in closed position on said runways until it is again desired to release them for `removal of the shoe or to open up the shoe for insertion of the foot.

I believe I am the first to provide latchmeans for this purpose constructed substantially solely of a resilient piece of wire.

It is apparentl that I have provided a novel type of separable fastener for use in securing the edges `of two materials together, particularly adapted for use in boots and shoes with the advantages explained above.

It is understood that my invention is not limited to the specicembodiment shown and that various deviations may be made therefrom withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A shoe comprising, shoe upper wings each having an outer layer and 'a runway attached to the underneath surface of each wing adjacent the edge thereof, and a slidable closure `member having an outer layer and runners on each edge thereof slidafble in said runways, with the edges of the outer layers of said wings and slidable closure member substantially abutting each other and having substantially flush outer surfaces whereby the runners and runways are concealed underneath the abutting flush surfaces of said outer layers.

2. A shoe comprising, shoe upper wings each having an outer layer and a runway attached to the underneath surface of each Wing adjacent the edge thereof, and a slidable closure member having side portions each having an aligned row -of eyelets `therein and an open central portion and an outer layer and runners on each edge thereof slidable in said runways, with the edges of the outer layers of said wings and slidable closure member substantially abutting each other and having substantially flush outer surfaces whereby the runners and runways are concealed underneath the abutting ush surfaces of said outer layers and a shoe lace inserted through said eyelets to adjustably space the side portions of said slidable closure member and shoe upper win-gs together.

, EDWARD GIOSEPH MARlNETTI. 

